This remains a business trip for 32 NFL teams. A quick walk Saturday revealed that even the vendors inside the Convention Center vibe in-house activity: Hammer Strength and Power Lift have carved out space to peddle hulking gym equipment to the league’s strength and conditioning coaches. Another room is packed with tackling dummies.

These rooms are closed off to the public, but the public was hovering just down the way, where the roped-off edges of the Convention Center end, giving way to a horde of waiting fans. I continued into this open space to find men, women and youth wrapped around Titans coach Mike Munchak, who patiently signed footballs, photos, notebooks.

Passing by, a massive, middle-aged dude — clearly a former player — advised a prospect: “That’s what you gotta do, brother, separate business — from the game.”

Beyond them, a young man in a suit sat alone on a bench. “I’m looking for an internship,” he said, hoping to meet with passing coaches and scouts for even a minute. Perhaps the next Mike Tannenbaum, if anyone will give a listen.

Devon Still was about to take the stage, I learned from a text. Time to go. I cut outside, where a terrible wind whipped shirt collars and notebook pages in every direction. Impatient for the light to turn, I jaywalked across South Street onto the grounds of Lucas Oil — back into a haven of warm lights and gratis, room-temperature sodas.

– Marc Sessler

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Combine presented by Under ArmourThe 2013 Scouting Combine, which will be held from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, is the annual job fair for prospective new NFL players. Players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts in attendance.